Austin Founder Lions Club

Overview of Texas Silver-Haired Legislature

  • 01 Nov 2018
  • 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Rudy's BBQ, 3914 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756

Registration

  • order and pay for lunch at Rudy's BBQ
  • order and pay for lunch at Rudy's BBQ

Please note this week's meeting location:
Rudy's BBQ, 3914 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756

History, Mission, Composition and Legislative Process of the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature

  
 Paul Stempko and Linda Parrish
Introduced by Lion Ann Ward

Since it was created by the Texas Legislature in 1985, the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature has been advocating for older Texans. Two members of the TSHL will provide an overview of this unique organization, as well as explain who its members are and how they operate. You’ll learn how their deliberations and adopted resolutions have impacted Texas public policy in areas ranging from Medicaid benefits for low-income seniors in nursing homes and scope of practice for advanced-practice nurses, to benefits for retired teachers, texting while driving and legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.

About our speakers:

Paul T Stempko retired from 3M in 2012 after 31 years with the company. He held positions in Customer Service and Sales Supervision, Business Development/Management, Marketing, and Account Management. Born in Philadelphia, he spent most of his youth in Ohio, graduating in 1976 from Ohio University with a degree in communications. He met his wife Jessica in Boston while in a rock band playing throughout New England. He settled down in 1981 and began his career at 3M in the Boston distribution center

Paul has been active in politics throughout his adult life, focusing on the issues of healthcare, workers’ rights, and the environment. He is currently serving his second term in the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, representing the Capital District, and is vice chair of the Health and Human Resources, Communications, and Legislative Action Committees.

Paul is also an active volunteer at the Hill Country Community Ministry Food Pantry in Leander. His hobbies include music, golf, cooking, and collecting wine.

Paul has lived in Round Rock, TX since 2002 with his wife, Jessica, and has two daughters, Julia and Kelsey. He also has a stepdaughter, Amanda, who lives in Denton, TX with her husband Scott and two boys, Clay and Dillon.

Linda H. Parrish, Texas A&M Regents Professor, retired from the university in 2006 after almost three decades of service as a professor and administrator (1978-2006). She continued to work at TAMU on a part-time basis until 2011 as the Interim Director of the Women’s & Gender Equity Center and as the Public Policy Director for the Center on Disability and Development. In addition to having won the AFS teaching awards at both the College and University levels, she was chosen as a named T-Camp and Fish Camp honoree, and was elected by her colleagues to the Charter Senate of TAMU. In addition to her dedication to the university, Dr. Parrish was committed to her community and State. Dr. Parrish was elected to the local CSISD school board, where she served 6 years and two terms as President. One of her highest honors was being selected as the American Association of University Centers recipient of the national Meritorious Service Award, stemming from her work as a Texas Governor Ann Richards appointee to various leadership positions involving Texans with disabilities.

After residing in College Station for 41 years, Dr. Parrish and her husband retired in Driftwood, Tx. where she has served on the board of the UT OLLI LAMP program, a life long learning program for seniors. She continues her service as a member of the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature (12 years as a representative from the Brazos Valley and 3 representing the Capitol Area). She currently chairs the TSHL Legislative Action Committee. Of course the principle reason for the move was to be close to her two grandchildren, Alex, age 13 and Malia, age 8.

LUNCH
If you wish to have lunch, please arrive at Rudy's BBQ around 11:30 and order and pay for your lunch there.

    
Please register by 5 p.m. on Wednesday so we know how many people to expect.

If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please call 512-441-1555.

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